The Sun Temple Konark, located in the eastern state of Odisha in India, is a stunning example of ancient Indian architecture. Built in the 13th century, this temple is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya. The temple is also known as the Black Pagoda due to its dark color, which is a result of the oxidization of the iron content in the stone used to construct it.

My mother wanted to offer her prayers at the famous temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri (Odisha). My dad arranged for our visit to Puri. We had one day at our disposal, and we planned for a visit to Konark. I had visited this temple when I was a kid with my parents. I had a faint memory of this place. My father drove us in our car from Jamshedpur and we had a great time then.

As soon as I entered the temple complex, I was awestruck by the sight of the massive chariot-shaped structure. It was truly magnificent and majestic. The sun was shining brightly on the stone walls, making them glow with a golden hue. I walked around the temple, admiring the details and craftsmanship of the carvings. I noticed that some of the sculptures were damaged or missing, due to natural decay and vandalism over the centuries. There were also some restoration works going on in some parts of the temple.

The temple is designed in the shape of a chariot with 24 wheels, each representing an hour of the day. The wheels are intricately carved with depictions of animals, mythological figures, and scenes from everyday life. The temple’s main tower, which stands at 100 feet tall, is supported by seven horses, each representing a day of the week.

The Konark temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It is dedicated to the Sun God Surya and is designed as a huge chariot with 12 pairs of wheels and seven horses. The temple is covered with intricate carvings and sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu mythology, astronomy, eroticism and daily life. The temple is also famous for its erotic sculptures, which are very explicit and sensual.

Like every big monument even it has a story — the temple has raised up those lovely legends which are affiliated everywhere with absolute works of art: its construction caused the mobilisation of 1,200 workers for 12 years. 

The temple’s walls are adorned with exquisite carvings that depict various aspects of Hindu mythology, including scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The temple also has several erotic sculptures that are believed to represent the Kama Sutra, an ancient Indian text on sexuality.

According to the legend, it is said that mother of Narasimbadeva prayed to Surya dev (Lord Sun) and gave birth to him, so she asked Narasimha to built a temple for Surya dev at that spot. The King Narasimha ordered 1200 men to work day and night and complete the entire temple in 12 years or else they will be killed. So, they went on work staying away from home and without visiting their families. They had to face a lot of difficulties as in those times as the science and technology wasn’t so developed as it’s today. 

They had to make sculpture out of each piece of rocks without exception. The major biggest problem was to bring the stones from Udaygiri hill and Khandagiri (the twin hills) to the place of work. They used the wooden rafts for transport. Slowly but working constantly, they completed the building in 12 years. Just two days before the completion of 12-year period, they started facing a problem that how to place a huge magnet above the building to keep it all in balance since in those time there were no cementing materials and the stones they were fixed by clamps. So the magnet would help them be in attracted and more or less fixed and tight. But they engineer could not find a way to place on the top of the monument. 

The architect Bisu Moharana’s son came in search of his father and asked him for permission to help them to mount the magnet. Finding no other way, he gave the permission and by some means the 12-year old child did the impossible. Everyone praised him but soon the 1200 workers came into threat that if the king came to know that the temple was made with the help a 12-year old child then he might punish them. So the workers said about this to the architect and gave him two proposals either death of 1200 workers or one child. This was a very tough situation for the father. But the wise child heard everything and jumped into the Chandraprabha estuary where the the river and sea met from the top of the Konark temple and that made the whole temple unworthy of worship. When the king came to know about this he got so upset that he ordered that there will be no offerings and prayers in that temple. 

The temple is divided into 4 parts: in the front, a stage for dancing. next a yajna mandir, next the main mandir and lastly Chhaya devi’s mandir — Chaya Devi is Surya Dev’s wife.

The literal meaning behind the word ‘Konark’ is kon meaning angle and ark meaning light or sun rays specially in this case. This is so because the temple was made in such a way of perfection that the face of Surya dev could always be sighted from sunrise to sunset. And this was the beauty of the temple is now lost due to our misfortune because of the removal of the magnet because the huge magnet was causing problem in the navigation systems of the sailors. The building started collapsing and thus now we can only find some remains and parts of the temple. The temple was made by keeping in mind the structure of a chariot specifically Surya’s chariot. It has 12 wheels with 8 spokes defining each prahar of 24 hours with dots showing minutes and seconds.

There are three sculptures of Lord Surya. One facing the east called early sun, next middle sun and last setting sun, with sculptures of all the three ages.

The temple is a real beauty of art perfectly blended with a sound knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. The sculptures have everything starting from the birth to the death. The Konark temple is a real heritage of art and culture.

I spent about two hours in the temple complex, taking pictures and videos of the various features and scenes. I also visited the museum near the temple, which had some models and exhibits explaining the history and significance of the temple. I learned that the temple was originally much larger and had a main sanctum where the idol of Surya was placed. However, the sanctum collapsed due to structural instability and was never rebuilt. The idol was also removed and taken to another place.

Despite being in ruins for centuries, the Sun Temple Konark still manages to captivate visitors with its grandeur and beauty. The intricate carvings and sculptures are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of ancient Indian artisans.

The temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts tourists from all over the world. Visitors can explore the temple’s various halls and chambers and marvel at the intricate carvings that adorn its walls.

I had a wonderful time visiting the Konark temple and learning more about its history and culture. The Sun Temple Konark is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in ancient Indian architecture and history. Its intricate carvings and stunning design make it a marvel of human ingenuity and creativity.